Danny Cipriani’s position as the pin-up boy of English rugby has been
confirmed with a deal that sees the Wasps and England player join David
Beckham as a ‘brand ambassador’ for sportswear company adidas.

Earning with stripes: Wasps and England fly-half Danny Cipriani has become a 'brand ambassador' for adidas, the German sportswear companyPhoto: Getty Images

By Telegraph staff and agencies

10:13AM BST 08 Oct 2008

The deal is one of the biggest ever in the sport and comes off the back of just a single full game for the national team and just over half a game in the Guinness Premiership since recovering from a horrendous injury that initially appeared to theaten his entire career.

His first game back for Wasps against Bath last Wednesday, five months after incurring a fracture dislocation to his ankle against the same opponents, marked a remarkable comeback and was testament to both the player’s mental strength and Wasps’ medical team.

Part of his commitment to the company will be taking part in a match at Wembley with a host of leading figures in the game for the Barbarians against Australia on Dec 3, in aid of the British Olympic Association to raise money for London 2012.

Cipriani missed Wasps’ EDF Energy Cup defeat at Gloucester due to suffering slight ill-effects of his return, claiming a “stiff” ankle, though is likely to feature against Castres on Sunday in the Heineken Cup.

“The ankle feels really good,” he said. “I’m hoping to play for 70 or 80 minutes.”